Mount Barker’s Laratinga Wetlands

At an awards ceremony in Melbourne on Friday 3rd June 2011, the District Council of Mount Barker was judged the overall winner of the Best Specific Environmental Initiative category of the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award for Laratinga Wetland.

Named after the Peramangk peoples name for the Mount Barker creek, Laratinga Wetland has taken several years to resemble a natural ecosystem. Landscaping design with the use of indigenous plant species has encouraged birds to utilise the wetland. Migrating birds utilise the safe island habitats. A food forest for Cockatoos has encouraged Cockatoos including the Yellow Tail Black Cockatoo back to the area.

Pop-Star’s house in Dalmeny Park, Mount Barker is just 1.5kms from these wetlands, and a similar distance from the interchange exit being built on the South Eastern Freeway, 35 km from Adelaide.

150 metres from his house is a storage tank and pumping station for the wetland effluent, set on the highest point of the surrounding terrain. A nearby plaque commemorates its opening in 2005 by the then Minister for the Environment Mr John Hill.

Reserve tank and pumping station. The ginger cat is Scoop He enjoys accompanying Pop-Star on his walks.